Natural Bug Repellent You Can Whip Up at Home

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

Spending time outdoors can be fun and invigorating, but it also makes you a potential meal for numerous insects.

Spending time in the grass can allow ticks to chomp onto you and the summer heat brings out the mosquitoes in force.

With growing awareness of the risks posed by the Zika virus and Lyme disease, it’s natural to want to protect yourself.

If you prefer not to use commercial sprays due to ingredients such as DEET, the alternative is to rely on natural bug repellents to ensure your safety.

Various substances are capable of protecting you either by making you less appealing to any errant insects or by serving as a natural bug killer.

Regardless of whether you want organic mosquito repellent or a DIY tick deterrent, or if you just want to how to make bug spray in general, read on for some answers.

Your Guide to DIY Bug Spray

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)

You can make your own Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus-based mosquito spray by mixing lemon eucalyptus oil with sunflower oil

This is also sometimes known as PMD due to the chemical name of the synthesized oil and is a form of insect repellent that has been endorsed by the CDC (1). You can make your own OLE-based mosquito spray by mixing lemon eucalyptus oil with sunflower oil or witch hazel in a 1:10 ratio. It’s important that you use OLE that has been formulated for use as a repellent since the CDC has not performed validation testing on unformulated, essential oil OLE; that oil is not included in the agency’s recommendations.

Soybean Oil

You can make your own all-natural insect repellent by using soybean oil and mixing it with water or another essential oil.

Soybean oil is used in certain commercial products like Bite Blocker for Kids as a means of producing longer-lasting bug protection. You can make your own all-natural insect repellent by using soybean oil and mixing it with water or another essential oil. One small study from Asia compared the effectiveness of various essential oils (2) and soybean mixtures in repelling different mosquito species. A mixture of 10% orange oil and soybean oil showed strong insecticidal activity against Aedes aegypti, the species of mosquito that can carry the Zika virus. Within 24 hours of application of the mixed solution, a 100% kill rate was achieved.

Essential Oil Bug Spray

You can mix together a few different essential oils to create a homemade bug spray that the little biters (or suckers) simply can’t stand. This homemade insect repellent recipe calls for:

1-1/2 tablespoons of water

1 teaspoon of castor oil

8 drops of rosemary oil

8 drops of lemongrass oil

4 drops of geranium oil

Mix these together in a two-ounce spray bottle and make sure to shake well before each spray. If you use a larger bottle, be sure to scale up the ingredients appropriately.

Booze, Cloves, and Baby Oil

This recipe for mosquito repellent takes a bit longer to make than others but it can still be quite effective. You will need:

16 ounces of rubbing alcohol

3.5 ounces of whole cloves

3.5 ounces of baby oil or lavender oil

Place the cloves in the alcohol and let it sit for four days. Stir each morning and evening. After the fourth day, strain the alcohol into a spray bottle and add the baby/lavender oil. As before, shake well before each spray.

Four Thieves Vinegar

According to legend, this recipe was used by thieves in medieval Europe to protect themselves as they stole from the sick and dead victims of the Black Plague. There are numerous variations on both the legend and the recipe, but one type you can try as a homemade mosquito spray calls for the following:

One 32-ounce bottle of apple cider vinegar

Two tablespoons each of dried sage, rosemary, lavender, thyme, and mint

A jar at least a quart in size and with an airtight lid

Pour the vinegar into the jar and add the herbs. Seal tightly and let it sit for two to three weeks. Make sure to shake the jar well each day. After this period, strain the herbs out and store the solution in spray or tincture bottles. If you plan to use this on your skin, dilute to half with water. Note that this has a very strong smell, which is probably why it’ll only help you steal from people who can’t chase you.

Other All Natural Mosquito Repellents

Not everything needs to be mixed up and sprayed to work against bugs. There are some organic bug repellents that can be used strategically around your home or on the go to provide spray-free protection.

Garlic

Simply cut a clove of garlic and rub it over an exposed area of your skin.

Effective against both mosquitoes and vampires for largely the same reason: they don’t like the smell. You could try eating a lot of garlic-containing foods (or just chomp on a clove if you’re brave enough) but oral insect repellents have an unreliable effectiveness record, so topical application is best. Simply cut a clove of garlic and rub it over an exposed area of your skin. Technically, you might be able to get a similar effect from rubbing garlic butter or a garlic-rich sauce on yourself but that would probably cause more problems than it would solve.

Citronella

If you are heading out, citronella oil can be rubbed on exposed parts of your skin.

Less useful against vampires but mosquitoes still don’t like the smell of this stuff. Citronella can be used as an organic bug repellent through a few different methods. If you’re the gardening type, you can plant citronella around your property to ward bugs away from your yard. If you are heading out, citronella oil can be rubbed on exposed parts of your skin. Lastly, you could burn a citronella candle and let the aroma and smoke take care of the matter.

Marigolds and Mums

The scent of marigolds repels most bugs, including ticks and mosquitoes.

Although you can’t rub these on your skin that well, growing marigolds and mums can help keep bugs off your property. The scent of marigolds repels most bugs, including ticks and mosquitoes, while a smaller selection get turned away by mums. Fortunately, mosquitoes are still deterred by mums so either works if you want to keep the bloodsuckers at bay.

Bats

A single bat can eat hundreds of mosquitoes and other insects every night. While no one wants to have a swarm of bats living in their attic, there are fortunately other ways to lure them onto your property. You can buy or make a “bat house” that you can hang on a tree. If successful, a bat will take up residence and help keep the local bug population down. Plus it’ll be a better conversation piece than a bird feeder.

Test Before Using Natural Bug Repellents

A key thing to keep in mind when dealing with essential oils is that they are highly concentrated. As a result, any essential oil you use must be diluted either in a carrier oil or in water to avoid provoking a skin reaction. Even if an oil is diluted properly, you should do a spot test for up to two days before starting full usage. Simply apply the solution to a small patch of skin, rub it in, and keep an eye on the area for up to 48 hours. If a reaction does occur, stop using it immediately and wash the area thoroughly.

Natural bug repellents and homemade mosquito repellents comes in many different forms and hopefully you can find at least one option here that will work for you this summer.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.